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Our Summary of MAUS by Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman's 'Maus' is a Holocaust narrative. Spiegelman structures the work based upon the experiences of his father's relationship with his mother. He opens the book with a visit to his father's house in Rego Park, New York, requesting his father's help in writing a book about the Holocaust experience. Instead of focusing on his experiences, Spiegelman's father, Vladek, focuses his story on how he met Anja, his mother. With this context in mind, Spiegelman opens the book with some background information about how Vladek meets Anja. They marry in 1937; she births a child and subsequently experiences depression which leads to Vladek committing her to a sanitarium for a short time. Vladek is drafted shortly thereafter. He kills a soldier and then is transported to a prisoner of war camp. By 1942, the war affects the Jews' way of living, which includes transportation to Auschwitz and registration. By the end of the first part of the book, Art is furious with his father for burning his mother's diaries. Throughout the rest of the book, Speigelman must balance the stories he receives from his father about the Holocaust with the real-life events that include his father having to be admitted into a hospital. One story informs the other. At the end of 'Maus' Vladek and Anja are reunited.

More Books by Art Spiegelman

FreeBookNotes has 3 more books by Art Spiegelman, with a total of 5 study guides.